Elev8 Initiative
Elev8 brings together schools, families and the community in underserved neighborhoods to ensure that students succeed in school and in life.
We are building communities that value and support the success of youth from birth to young adulthood. Recognizing that strong schools are key to such communities, Elev8:
- Extends learning opportunities for students beyond the classroom and traditional school year;
- Provides high-quality school-based health services to children and their families;
- Encourages parents to be actively involved in their children’s education; and
- Offers family supports and resources on school campuses designed to promote economic stability, good health and continuing education.
In 2007, Oakland was invited to participate in an exciting national initiative of The Atlantic Philanthropies currently named Elev8 initiative. Oakland is wrapping up its second year of implementation of this four-year initiative. Elev8 (formerly The Atlantic Philanthropies' Integrated Services in School Initiative - ISSI) is a national initiative that brings together schools, families and the community in underserved neighborhoods to ensure that students succeed in school and in life.
The Elev8 initiative is being implemented in New Mexico, Chicago, Baltimore, and Oakland, with schools, local nonprofits and community partners working to provide integrated service delivery in public middle schools.
These local initiatives were selected after considering 35 American cities in 22 states. They were chosen by The Atlantic Philanthropies and its national advisory board based on criteria that included socio-economic need and disparity, health profiles, academic performance and neighborhood crime data. Some participating schools represent zip codes with some of the lowest life expectancies and highest rates of asthma hospitalizations, STD diagnosis and teen births in the country. Atlantic also looked for locations with leaders and communities with a strong commitment to ensuring that middle school children get the support they deserve to succeed in life and school.
For more information about the national initiative and the New Mexico, Chicago, and Baltimore sites, please visit http://www.elev8kids.org/.
Oakland Mission and Vision
Elev8 in Oakland envisions a community where all young people have the opportunity to realize their full potential. The Oakland Elev8 is based on the premises that access to educational opportunity, health services, and family support should not be dictated by race or socio-economic status, and that healthy and supported young people are better prepared to learn and succeed.
The project adheres to national youth development principles that build on young people’s strengths and innate abilities, and addresses their developmental needs. As the lead entity per the Elev8 Oakland Initiative, Safe Passages brings together four jurisdictional bodies including the State of California, Alameda County, City of Oakland and the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD).
Sites Served
Five school campuses United for Success Middle School, West Oakland Middle School, Havenscourt (ROOTS and Coliseum College Prep Middle Schools), Madison Middle School, and Roosevelt Middle School were selected by the Oakland partners to participate in the Oakland Elev8; the selection was based on criteria that included socio-economic need and disparity, health profiles, academic performance and neighborhood crime data. Approximately 2,400 students and families have been benefitting from an array of services including:
- Learning/Extended Day
Academic support activities that target the highest need children across the six sites; this includes extended day academic support and mentoring; Saturday school and summer transition programs. - Health Services
We are in the process of building four new School Based Health Clinics at Madison, United for Success (Calvin Simmons), West Oakland, and Havenscourt Middle Schools, and expanding the existing clinic at Roosevelt Middle School. The clinics provide physical, mental and dental health services, case management services and Health Education including nutrition services and trainers. The opening of the clinics is planned for fall 2010. - Family Support
Dedicated Family Advocates are at each target site working with families in developing their financial, health and educational skills. A variety of classes are held in the family resource center on each school site including ESL/DBET courses, parenting and job skills courses. Alameda County Eligibility Technicians who assist families in enrolling for government benefits are also on site and starting in the fall, there will be a food pantry and legal assistance.
Funding Sources and Distribution
Oakland's Elev8 partnership was awarded a total of $15 million from Atlantic Philanthropies towards a 4-year Implementation Phase project budget. The local partner contribution to this initiative is an additional $25.7 million bringing the total project amount to $40.7 million.
Elev8 Oakland
The lead entities in Oakland are Safe Passages 501(c)(3) and Youth Ventures Joint Powers Authority: A Partnership of Alameda County, The City of Oakland, Oakland Unified School District and the East Bay Community Foundation.
Elev8 Oakland Governing Body Partners and Providers
YOUTH VENTURES JPA BOARD OF TRUSTEES County of Alameda Oakland Unified School District City of Oakland |
PARTNERS Federal Philanthropy Oakland Unified School District City of Oakland County of Alameda Private Sector |
COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS Alameda County Food Bank |